He said, she said: Courier vs CGFNS

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Med-Tele/SDU/ED.

EMS said their records show my Visa Screen application & payment was delivered and signed for end of September.

I finally talked to somebody at CGFNS. They say that they have never received my application and payment. When I mentioned the date, time and signee in EMS records, the CGFNS person said they do not have an employee by that name.

So what do I do now?

Is there a chance that the CGFNS person is wrong, and that my application is there all along? It would create waves if I ask the bank to investigate who cashed the check, if CGFNS people failed to enter the data into their computers.

The flip side is, has anybody else been in this same situation? Where EMS claimed that the documents had been delivered and signed for, but were not? Has anybody lost any documents sent via EMS?

It's very frustrating. All along I thought my Visa Screen papers were being processed. Looks like I've lost $325 and 4 months of processing time.

I hope I can recover the $325.

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There are a few here that have had parts of their file missing or all of it. And they were able to get it straightened out. It happens with the state BON at times also. That is why it is very important to do follow-ups with anyone if you do not see your file updated within a certain amount of time.

Let this be a lesson to all of you, do not use any type of air-mail service thru your post office, that is all that EMS is. Use courier service only.

Now to get back to your issue, find out if the chceck was cashed and if so, by whom? You may find that is was never cashed. And then you get it refunded. Do not jump to any conclusions yet.

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Pinoy guy,

im so sorry to hear about that...i hope you would be able to straight things out...i've been using EMS also..that is what i've been using in processing my papers from school to BON( i asked the school to send it using that mail service). so far no problem coz i'll be writing my exam on the 23rd:) and also with visa screen certificate application...i have received my ichp # just last week ( i didnt take CP btw) but i'll keep in mind about what happened to you...as per ms suzanne, i'll be using courier from then on...

Ms Suzanne,

I've checked my status on ichp...and it says "ready for review"...what does it mean, did they receive all my documents aside from my application, like my transcript and license???:coollook: though i know my nclex result and english exams weren't there yet.

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It means that they have received documents that need to be reviewed before it will say "received and accepted."

I still advise that anyone use a courier service. A real one. Not worth the headaches.

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It means that they have received documents that need to be reviewed before it will say "received and accepted."

I still advise that anyone use a courier service. A real one. Not worth the headaches.

gee, thanks for that super quick reply :)

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I try, when I am able.:)

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Med-Tele/SDU/ED.
There are a few here that have had parts of their file missing or all of it. And they were able to get it straightened out. It happens with the state BON at times also. That is why it is very important to do follow-ups with anyone if you do not see your file updated within a certain amount of time.
Actually I had been emailing CGFNS around 6 weeks after they're supposed to receive my papers. As they replied to a previous email after 2 months, I didn't find it odd that I didn't get a reply immediately.

The updating of the online Status Page was also erratic. Sometimes it felt like they have this Random Number Generator changing the status from time to time. My High School diploma was initially "waived" then later became "waiting to be received."

Let this be a lesson to all of you, do not use any type of air-mail service thru your post office, that is all that EMS is. Use courier service only.
Yes. I suggest pooling applications and sending them by batches. Sending a single application by FedEx is heavy on the pocket.

Now to get back to your issue, find out if the chceck was cashed and if so, by whom? You may find that is was never cashed. And then you get it refunded. Do not jump to any conclusions yet.
I had a meeting outside Manila today. I'll have the bank investigate tomorrow.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Med-Tele/SDU/ED.
im so sorry to hear about that...i hope you would be able to straight things out...
Thanks.

At this point, I'm thinking more of sending a new application and payment ASAP, and worry about the lost bank draft later.

I have this feeling we're running out of time!

Looking for all those diplomas and transcripts is gonna take time though. Have to have a new set of pics taken. And yeah, the $325 bank draft.

Then factoring in the holidays... It's heart-rending to think how much time I've lost.

i've been using EMS also..that is what i've been using in processing my papers from school to BON( i asked the school to send it using that mail service). so far no problem coz i'll be writing my exam on the 23rd:) and also with visa screen certificate application...i have received my ichp # just last week ( i didnt take CP btw) but i'll keep in mind about what happened to you...as per ms suzanne, i'll be using courier from then on...
Same here. I've sent around 12 documents via EMS, with no hitches. Until now.

Good luck on you exam, I hope you'll have a Merry Xmas!

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The person that I was speaking about earlier was able to get the missing parts found within just a couple of days. I suggest that you go that route first, or you will be waiting months again.

Before you do anything, find out if the check was even cashed. That should be your first step.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Med-Tele/SDU/ED.
The person that I was speaking about earlier was able to get the missing parts found within just a couple of days. I suggest that you go that route first, or you will be waiting months again.
How did he go about it?

Do I first verify if ICHP encashed the check, and then call them up again?

The guy on the other end was not exactly friendly nor helpful. You know, like some patients. Open-ended questions didn't work. I got short monosyllabic answers.

Before you do anything, find out if the check was even cashed. That should be your first step.
Yes, I'm doing that in the morning.

Had an appointment today out of Manila, and couldn't make it back before the bank closed.

Thanks, you've been a great help!

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If the check was not cashed, then your envelope was lost. That is the first thing to find out. If it was cashed, get a copy of it from the bank, on it should be the CGFNS account number that they applied the fee to. That is where you should start.

Find that out, and let me know. Then step #2, if needed. But that may be able to solve your problem. And if the person is rude at the other end, get the customer service manager on the phone and report it. There is absolutely no reason that any of you need to put up with that. Get the person's name that you are speaking to at the beginning of each conversation at CGFNS, that way you know who they are, and you may find yourself getting better service to begin with.

Just a little trick that usually works. You can tell them that you want their name so that if become disconnected, you can cal back and speak directly to them.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Med-Tele/SDU/ED.
If the check was not cashed, then your envelope was lost. That is the first thing to find out. If it was cashed, get a copy of it from the bank, on it should be the CGFNS account number that they applied the fee to. That is where you should start.
OK, got it.

You know, a few hours ago I was hesitant about having the bank trace the check coz they might tag it with a red flag and adversely affect my account. Somehow their bank calling up CGFNS and telling them that the check they encashed might have been stolen might not put them in a good mood. :chuckle

At least I know now that this is the way to go about it.

Find that out, and let me know. Then step #2, if needed. But that may be able to solve your problem.
I will. I think the other people here should know about it too so they can avoid my mistakes.

And know what to do when this thing happens again.

And if the person is rude at the other end, get the customer service manager on the phone and report it. There is absolutely no reason that any of you need to put up with that. Get the person's name that you are speaking to at the beginning of each conversation at CGFNS, that way you know who they are, and you may find yourself getting better service to begin with.
He was not exactly rude, but he was...not friendly either. I don't know if that's typical behavior where he lives, but I got the feeling I was kinda like disturbing him from something, and he wanted to get rid of me.

For other readers here, expect to be put on hold at least 7 minutes...they play this voice about the call being recorded for monitoring, that they get a lot of calls yada yada yada and that you can use their Automated System to get answers quickly and then something the Online Status Page at http://www.cgfns.org.

After the cycled through these messages twice, that's when the phone rang and the guy answered.

Just a little trick that usually works. You can tell them that you want their name so that if become disconnected, you can cal back and speak directly to them.
Will try that.
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